It is true that military chapels are supposed to be, in some respects, “religiously neutral.”  The objective of the regulations governing chapels is that any faith group be able to use them for their spiritual needs.  As chapel space is often limited, many times a single building, or even a single room, must meet the needs of all faith groups.

The military academies have long been an exception.  The main floor of the US Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, which turned 50 just a few months ago, is overtly Christian, with a huge, sculpted metal cross hanging from the ceiling.  Rather than having “shared spaces,” the USAFA Chapel has dedicated faith rooms for a variety of belief systems (though all are within the Chapel building itself).

Likewise, the US Military Academy at West Point is home to a dedicated, free-standing Jewish synagogue.  (The claim that it is the only one in the Department of Defense is in error; the US Naval Academy at Annapolis also has a dedicated Jewish synagogue.)  That chapel celebrated its 25th anniversary this month, bringing in a variety of high level government officials, flag officers, and even the remarks of the Commander in Chief, President Barack Obama:

On this special occasion, I am pleased to join the West Point community in celebrating the proud heritage of the Jewish faith and the significance it holds in the lives of countless service men and women.

The US military strives to uphold the religious freedoms of its troops, whatever their faith, though it may face logistical barriers in doing so, particularly for minority faiths.  The construction of this synagogue at the US Military Academy 25 years ago, which was funded at least in part by private donations, is an admirable demonstration of the military’s efforts in supporting its troops’ religious freedom.